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We’ve received reports that cybercriminals are at it again, luring unsuspecting taxpayers in the United States into handing over their personal information as they rush to file their taxes before the deadline.

Here are 6 ways to help protect yourself.

1. Beware of all email, text, or social networking messages that appear to be from the IRS. Cybercriminals often send fraudulent messages meant to trick you into revealing your social security number, account numbers, or other personal information. They’ll even use the IRS logo. Read more about how the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or use any social media tools to request personal or financial information.2. Use technology to help detect scams. Scams that ask for personal or financial information are called “phishing scams.” Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, and other programs have anti-phishing protection built in. Read more about identity theft protection tools that can help you avoid tax scams.3. Check to see if you already have antivirus software. If a cybercriminal does fool you with a tax scam that involves downloading malware onto your computer, you might already be protected by your antivirus software. If your computer is running Windows 8, you have antivirus software built in. Download Microsoft Security Essentials at no cost for Windows 7 and Windows Vista. 4. Make sure the website uses secure technology. If you’re filing your taxes on the web, make sure that the web address begins with https, and check to see if a tiny locked padlock appears at the bottom right of the screen. For more information, see How do I know if I can trust a website and What is HTTPs?5. Think before you download tax apps. Download apps only from major app stores—the Windows Phone Store or Apple’s App Store, for example—and stick to popular apps with numerous reviews and comments.6. Be realistic. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. From companies that promise to file your taxes for free, to websites that claim you don’t have to pay income tax because it’s unconstitutional—keep an eye out for deliberately misleading statements.

Today Microsoft released a security update for Internet Explorer. To help protect your computer, visit Windows Update to download and install the update and ensure that you have automatic updating turned on.

Note: This update replaces the Fix it that we posted earlier this week. If you install this update, you do not need the Fix it. If you already installed the Fix it, you still need to install this update.

On September 21, we will release a cumulative update for Internet Explorer through Windows Update. We recommend that you install this update immediately. If you have automatic updating enabled on your computer, you won’t need to take any action – it will automatically update your machine. This update will reinforce the issue that the Fix it addressed and it will also cover other issues.

Within the next few days Microsoft will release an easy-to-use tool (called a “Fix it”) that you can download for free. When the Fix it is available, we will post the link to download it here on this blog. You will also find it on the MSRC blog.

Your Internet Explorer home page (that is, the first page you seen when you open Internet Explorer) can be set to any webpage you want. Follow the instructions below to set your home page to one you like. Note, though, that if your Internet Explorer home page has suddenly and inexplicably changed to a webpage you didn’t choose, it could be the result of malware (viruses or spyware). If you follow the directions below and your home page keeps changing back to another page, download and install Microsoft Security Essentials to help remove the malware.

To change your home page in Internet Explorer 9

In Internet Explorer, navigate to the page that you want to make your home page.

Right-click the Home icon on the Internet Explorer 9 toolbar.

Select Add or Change Home Page.

Select either Use this webpage as your only home page, or Add this webpage to your home page tabs.

Click Yes to save your changes.

To change your home page in Internet Explorer 7 and 8

In Internet Explorer, navigate to the page that you want to make your home page.

Click the down arrow next to the Home icon on the Internet Explorer toolbar.

Select Add or Change Home Page.

Select either Use this webpage as your only home page, or Add this webpage to your home page tabs.